Los Angeles-In the early moments of USC’s final dress rehearsal of the pre-season, the Trojans’ highly touted freshman quarterback Matt Barkley essentially tripped on the opening curtain.

On the first team offense’s first play from scrimmage the former Mater Dei star tripped after receiving the snap and was barely able shovel the ball to tailback Joe McKnight, who salvaged the play with a six-yard run.

“Great start,” Barkley said later tongue in cheek.

There would be other missteps from Barkley on Saturday.

Barkley, designated to be the first true freshman in USC history to begin the season as the Trojans’ starting quarterback, showed enough glimpses of his much-hyped talent to make the 6,000 fans at the Coliseum happy. But mainly Barkley’s performance was a mixed bag, a six series reminder that Barkley, who doesn’t turn 19 until next week, is still very much a work in progress.

Barkley completed 10 of 17 passes for one touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for a one-yard TD.

So here are five things we learned Saturday:

1. Pete Carroll has no second thoughts (at least publicly) about deciding to name Barkley starter last week. Carroll surprised some by designating Barkley as the starter last Thursday instead of waiting until after Saturday’s scrimmage to see how much junior Aaron Corp’s mobility has improved. Corp came into the pre-season No. 1 on the depth chart only to fracture a bone in his fibula opening the door for Barkley. While Carroll was quick to give a definitive “No” when asked if he had any doubts about his decision, the Trojan coach wasn’t nearly as upbeat about Barkley as he has been in recent weeks.

“I think he missed a couple of chances,” Carroll said. “I think he’s still growing, still coming. He could be better.”

2. Carroll made the right decision. Sure Corp was solid and his mobility has clearly improved but it was also evident that he won’t be back at 100 per cent when the Trojans take on San Jose State next Saturday. By naming Barkley the starter last week Carroll avoided dragging the quarterback soap opera into the week of the season opener where it would have been a major distraction not only for whoever eventually earned the job but for the whole team. Even before Carroll announced his decision the Trojans, especially on the offensive line, had already rallied around Barkley.

3. Barkley needs to pick up the pace. Too often on Saturday, Barkley was too slow to read coverages, too slow rolling out, too slow throwing. He got away with the pedestrian pace against the scout defense, a luxary he won’t have against San Jose State to say nothing of Ohio State Sept. 12. Even Barkley acknowledged he needs to play with a greater sense of urgency. “Get everything quicker,” Barkley said snapping his fingers.

4. Barkley is still forcing throws into coverage when he should be throwing it away. Mark Sanchez’s rise to the starter’s spot was stalled by his tendency to force throws. Barkley has struggled with the same flaw. He has had an interception in nearly every practice/scrimmage this month. And that doesn’t count the balls Trojan defensive backs have dropped. He was picked off Saturday after a scout team defensive end dropped back in coverage and tipped a ball that was scooped up by a DB. But Barkley’s bone head play of the day was a close call in the first half when, trying to run away from a sack, falling off balance near the right sideline, he nonetheless decided to fire a ball into a crowd in the back of the end zone.

5. Barkley has one less major target to rely on. When Carroll called the loss of wide receiver Ronald Johnson for six to eight weeks “the hit of the weekend” he wasn’t talking about the blow that cracked the receiver’s clavicle. Johnson’s injury is a major blow to a receiving crew that was expected to ease Barkley’s transition. With RoJo out, David Ausberry will move into the starting line-up but redshirt freshman Brice Butler and freshman De’Von Flournoy will also have to step. Like now. Butler had four receptions for 66 yards on Saturday. Flournoy has been impressive on the field but continues to struggle to learn the offense.

Scott M. Reid is a sports enterprise/investigative reporter for the Orange County Register. He also covers Olympic and international sports as well as the Los Angeles’ bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. His work for the Register has led to investigations by the International Olympic Committee, the U.S. Department of Education, the California Legislature, and the national governing bodies for gymnastics and swimming. Reid's 2011 reporting on wide spread sexual abuse within USA Gymnastics and the governing body's failure to effectively address it led to Don Peters, coach of the 1984 record-setting Olympic team, being banned from the sport for life. His reporting also prompted USA Gymnastics to adopt new guidelines and policies dealing with sexual abuse. Reid's 2012 and 2013 reporting on sexual abuse within USA Swimming led to the banishment of two top level coaches. Reid has won 11 Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting since 1999. He has also been honored by APSE for game writing, and enterprise, news, and beat reporting. He was an Investigative Reporters and Editors award finalist in 2002 and 2003. Prior to joining the Register in 1996, Reid worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Dallas Times Herald. He has a B.A. in the History of the Americas from the University of Washington.

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